Posts Tagged with Earth Day

Earth Day 2019 seems like an appropriate day to remind ourselves of the realities of climate change, and that there is no Planet B.

This blog started in April 2010 (goodness, has it been that long!) with a focus on green building in Miami. And it is still that. But much like I imagine journalist David Wallace-Wells felt collecting disparate articles with one terrifying, unifying thread – I’ve realized that if we, as a nation and as a planet, do not address climate change now, it won’t matter how great the sustainable buildings are in Miami. They will be underwater.

What is the Energy Innovation & Carbon Dividend Act

According to energyinnovationact.org, there are two primary features – a “carbon fee” and a “carbon dividend” – and two protections for businesses.

Carbon Fee

This policy puts a fee on fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas. It starts low, and grows over time. This will drive down carbon pollution because energy companies, leading industries, and American consumers will move toward cleaner, cheaper options.

Carbon Dividend

The money collected from the carbon fee is allocated in equal shares every month to the American people to spend as they see fit. Program administrative costs are paid from the fees collected. The government does not keep any of the money from the carbon fee.

Border Carbon Adjustment

To protect U.S. manufacturers and jobs, imported goods will pay a border carbon adjustment, and goods exported from the United States will receive a refund under this policy.

Regulatory Adjustment

This policy preserves effective current regulations, like auto mileage standards, but pauses the EPA authority to regulate the CO2 and equivalent emissions covered by the fee, for the first 10 years after the policy is enacted. If emission targets are not being met after 10 years, Congress gives clear direction to the EPA to regulate those emissions to meet those targets. The pause does not impact EPA regulations related to water quality, air quality, health or other issues. This policy’s price on pollution will lower carbon emissions far more than existing and pending EPA regulations.

Harmful algal blooms come in many forms, from toxic outbreaks impacting the health of animals and humans, to non-toxic but expansive sargassum mats devastating local economies and tourism. Scientists are working to understand what causes these blooms, how they impact us, and how we can stop them.

The event is free, but an RSVP is required. Seating begins at 5:30; screening starts at 6:00 p.m. with a panel discussion after.

On April 20th, one of my favorite places in Miami – Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science – is hosting an all day series of events in honor of Earth Day 2019.

photo courtesy: Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science

Start your day off with a chance to make a difference with a MUVE led clean-up of our local green spaces and bay. Then continue your day by joining the global movement to take care of our planet by learning about the three Rs – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – before chatting with our experts and meeting some of our Frost Science endangered and threatened species through special animal encounters. Connect with onsite scientists who are working on making corals more resilient so they can survive in warmer oceans and discover how important bees are in pollination by participating in a bee pollination relay race. Don’t miss out as it’s sure to be a buzzing day!

SCHEDULE:

During the day, you will have a chance to:

– Pass by the ECO- Green U table to get your punching card, visit our booths and start learning while having fun.
– Learn from our partners how they promote Sustainability in our region: Check the list of vendors from the Green Fair below.
– Win sustainable prizes like reusable water bottles, recycled fiber bags or Sustainable food vouchers.
– Listen to a Frost School of Music sponsored Concert. The electricity used for the concert will be offset by Renewable Energy Credits, making the concert NET ZERO ENERGY.
– Admire the work of our School of Art’ students. Their creations’ material came from salvaged resources they picked at the UM Surplus warehouse in Medley FL.

HUG THE LAKE

Presented by Random Act of Kindness and the Butler Center for Service and Leadership: At 12 pm, you are all invited to join us for 15 minutes at Lake Osceola to celebrate Earth Day by hugging the lake.

April 20, 6:00pm – 9:00pm: Biology by the Bay

This one is for the grown-ups only.

Fun ocean-loving people all coming together for happy hour to listen to and discuss the work of another ocean-loving researcher – Sounds like a great Thursday night and way to celebrate the earth we all know and love! Did I mention snacks will be provided… EVEN BETTER! Join us in the event field at Miami Seaquarium which overlooks Biscayne Bay and the Miami skyline for this awesome Earth day event! Guest speaker: Wildlife Biologist, Joe Wasilewski.

Ticket options – The event is free but if you would like a drink:$5.00 donation – Drink ticket for one beer/wine (Cash only)
$10.00 donation – Drink ticket for one beer/wine and a reusable cup (Cash only). Proceeds will benefit the organization of guest speaker’s choice. This event is BYOC (Bring your own cup) or purchase one of ours. Additional drink tickets can be purchased with cash at event.

April 21, 7:30pm – 9:30pm: 4earth Mini Film Festival

We will set up our 14 ft tall screen on our field that overlooks Biscayne Bay to showcase four to five “Beneath the Waves” short films (20 mins each). These films will have a strong focus on marine science and the issues surrounding our environment today. The movie event is free of charge! Guests can bring their own lawn chair or blanket, pack a picnic dinner and spread out in the event field to watch the films. We can offer popcorn and snacks throughout the event. Beneath the Waves is a global platform for ocean conservation, education, and discovery. Their mission is to raise awareness regarding critical marine issues, foster the advancement of science, and promote the protection of our oceans.

April 22nd, 2:00pm – 6:00pm: Lionfish Derby & Community Picnic

Lionfish are invading all over the Caribbean and Atlantic Ocean, destroying local reefs and native creatures. One way to raise awareness about this issue and possible solutions is through a Lionfish Derby. Through REEF, we will host a daylong event in which fishermen volunteer to catch lionfish and bring them back to Miami Seaquairum for scoring, data collection, and a community picnic.

REEF sanctioned lionfish derbies are a great way to cull the local population of lionfish in South Florida. These fish are native to the South Pacific and Indian oceans. They have no natural predators in the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean, or the Gulf of Mexico, so they are thriving in these areas. Lionfish are able to eat almost anything, which is really taking a toll on our South Florida marine ecosystems, causing native species to lose their food and resources.

Not only is this event for fishermen to take part in, but a day for the whole family to enjoy! Get a taste of lionfish by sampling them cooked in a number of ways, get creative by participating in lionfish jewelry workshops and learn more about what you can do at the local level to fight the lion fish invasion by visiting with our participating organizations!

April 23, 8:00am – 10:00am: Scientific Beach Clean-up @ Hobie Beach

Flipper and Friends want to partner with local junior and high schools in the area to give back to our oceans. We will host a day of cleaning up our beaches, where students can attend our beach cleanup, or hold their own. All teachers need to do is contact Miami Seaquarium for our beach debris data sheet to participate and return it with their collected data. The following week, Miami Seaquarium will visit and or virtually interact with the participating schools to discuss type of debris they found why they think it is there, how it affects the marine environment, and what they can do to mitigate these issues.

Join South Beach Dive and Surf Center and Debris Free Oceans this Earth Day for a reef cleanup scuba diving trip in the crystal blue waters of Key Largo!

On April 22nd, we will be teaming up with our partner Rainbow Reef Dive Center and bringing divers to an area outside of the protected John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in need of cleaning up. Participants will enjoy two drift dives while removing debris from the reef.

All you need is your open-water diver certification, around 20 logged dives (to be sure that you are experienced enough to multitask underwater) and a passion for protecting our reefs that are crucial to the survival of thousands of marine species.

This specific volunteer-oriented trip costs $20 less than our usual Key Largo diving excursions, and participants will receive half-off of gear rentals! Book online through the SBD trip calendar and save an additional 5% on your reservation! Or feel free to call us at 305-531-6110 to book.

Participants are asked to come to South Beach Divers (850 Washington Ave) at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday morning for a safe-handling workshop, where you will learn the ins and out of being a successful and safe marine steward. We will then gear up, fill out paperwork and head to Key Largo. We will stop for food on our way down so you can either pack a lunch or bring money for Subway or Pollo Tropical.

South Beach Divers provides free transportation to and from Key Largo, or you can choose to drive yourself. After the dives, different groups and sponsors will be tabling including Debris Free Oceans and Stream2Sea. We will calculate the total amount of debris removed and record data to submit to scientific research, and then head to Sharkey’s Pub and Grill for food, drinks and prizes!

As of now, one South Beach Divers vehicles will be staying in Key Largo for the after party and heading back around 7. Please indicate in your reservation if you would like to drive yourself or with us. If you choose to dive with us, please indicate in the comments of your reservation if you would like to stay later or head back to Miami immediately after the dive.

If you have any questions or concerns, shoot us an email at sales@southbeachdivers.com or give us a call at 305-531-6110.

You are invited to Sip of Science on the Miami Science Barge

Sip of Science is a monthly lecture series held every third Wednesday and hosted on the Miami Science Barge. Enjoy discussion and drinks with a talk that makes you think! This month the Miami Science Barge welcomes Dr. Keren Bolter, from FAU Geosciences, to talk about Sea Level Rise and Climate Justice in Miami

Do the Shore Thing! Join the 35th annual Baynanza on Earth Day, Saturday, April 22, from 9 a.m. to noon, to help clean up one of the jewels of Miami – our Biscayne Bay. Volunteer registration for the Biscayne Bay Cleanup Day is now open.

The March for Science Miami is to celebrate our enthusiasm and passion for science and to call for support in safeguarding the scientific community.

We will come together on April 22, 2017 to unite, as a community, and to call for science that upholds the common good, and for policies that enact evidence-based science in the public’s interest.

Scientists work together to help understand, and build, a better future for us. Science is constantly expanding, and is a continual process that should not be withheld from the public– especially tax-funded research. Without science, we would not have the modern medicine we use today, or the education that teaches children and adults to think critically, ask questions, and evaluate.

We will gather together at Museum Park on April 22, 2017, to stand united for fellow scientists, and science enthusiasts, and to pledge our dedication to open, inclusive, and accessible science!

Science Saturday on the Miami Science Barge in Museum Park is not just for Earth Day, but when better to bring the whole family downtown for an eco-adventure? “The Miami Science Barge hosts researchers from NOAA Fisheries in the Marine Mammal Program who will discuss the resident pod of Bottlenose Dolphins that live in Biscayne Bay. Kids will be able to enjoy hands-on dolphin related activities. All ages are welcome, and entry is by donation.”

“Workshop B of the Miami Science Barge Sustainable Fishing Series will focus on fish filleting skills in an attempt to reduce waste during the fish cleaning process. A local charter fishing captain will be on-board to lead the knife skills session. Barge crew will discuss and educate on the importance of eating locally, choosing seafood from sustainable sources, and where to find this information…”

April 15th is National Citizen Science Day, so the Miami Science Barge has partnered with Chelle King fr. om Frost Science to help citizen scientists of all ages participate in a “BioBlitz” using the iNaturalist app (FREE for Apple or Android devices) to document the biological diversity in Museum Park.

Sip of Science is a monthly lecture series for adults to enjoy drinks and discussions on a variety of sustainability-related topics. This month, Dr. Keren Bolter, FAU Geosciences, talks about “Sea Level Rise and Climate Justice in Miami”

Join the University of Miami Rosenstiel of Marine and Atmospheric Science Alumni Association as they host Debris Free Oceans with a film screening of a Plastic Ocean at the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science auditorium at Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science, Virginia Key, Miami. Enjoy a free beer from Sailfish Brewing Company (with ID). FREE for students of any age.

Celebrating Earth Day at the Miami Seaquarium with a Beneath the Waves Mini Film Festival! Showcase 4 -5 Beneath the Waves short films (20 mins each), the films have a strong focus on marine science and the issues surrounding our environment today.

Get up and clean up in celebration of Earth Day! Friends of The Underline is partnering with the Miami Dade County Department of Transportation & Public Works to present Earth Day on The Underline, with members of your community volunteering to clean up the future Underline: Brickell Backyard from the Miami River to Coral Way.

Not only is this event for fishermen to take part in, but a day for the whole family to enjoy! Get a taste of lionfish by sampling them cooked in a number of ways, get creative by participating in lionfish jewelry workshops and learn more about what you can do at the local level to fight the lion fish invasion by visiting with our participating organizations!

Join South Beach Dive and Surf Center and Debris Free Oceans this Earth Day for a reef cleanup scuba diving trip in the crystal blue waters of Key Largo! Meet at South Beach Dive Center at 850 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach, then stay for the after-party in Key Largo. South Beach Divers provides free transportation to and from Key Largo.

Miami Seaquarium is holding a beach clean-up at Hobie Beach on Virginia Key, next to the park. Along with cleaning the beach, we want to conduct research on what kind of trash we find. Once we know the kind of trash that is abundant on our local beach, we can reach out to the community and inform them of alternatives to these items that can be used more than once.

An evening of supporting the Shark Research and Conservation Program’s work to preserve the marine environment and its Sharky inhabitants. All proceeds/donations from the evening will go directly towards the Miami’s Shark Research and Conservation Program.

Yes, April also celebrates Arbor Day, and the City of Miami is partnering with Citizens for A Better South Florida to lead volunteers in a day of activities at the Virginia Key Park and Nature Conservancy Restoration project.

Miami Science Barge will host the Shark Research and Conservation Lab from University of Miami RSMAS. Student researchers will discuss their Urban Sharks initiative, highlighting how sharks can live in an urban environment (all around the Barge and downtown), as well as debunking the scary mysteries of sharks and discussing their ecology and threats they face.